Skip to content

Population in Mali compared to Nigeria: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mali was 24,478,595 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mali's population is 26,143,152 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 9.33 times bigger than Mali's.
  • Mali is ranked the 58th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.26% of the world: 0.32% for Mali vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Mali has had an average growth rate of +3.12% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mali has increased from 14M people to 26.1M (86.9% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Mali vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Mali
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mali Nigeria
2100 80,371,693 481,678,166
2099 80,051,982 481,494,914
2098 79,712,985 481,219,866
2097 79,363,373 480,876,108
2096 78,996,636 480,460,381
2095 78,611,169 479,976,454
2094 78,201,275 479,432,855
2093 77,780,277 478,807,152
2092 77,346,576 478,097,591
2091 76,892,849 477,274,569
2090 76,418,075 476,367,086
2089 75,924,551 475,363,859
2088 75,413,374 474,268,867
2087 74,882,872 473,072,894
2086 74,339,859 471,769,229
2085 73,778,163 470,365,292
2084 73,197,940 468,843,169
2083 72,596,727 467,224,322
2082 71,983,705 465,509,151
2081 71,348,537 463,679,779
2080 70,707,220 461,741,930
2079 70,044,626 459,680,797
2078 69,367,218 457,513,367
2077 68,675,750 455,254,796
2076 67,972,574 452,885,729
2075 67,256,565 450,402,898
2074 66,523,454 447,825,224
2073 65,776,035 445,152,156
2072 65,016,928 442,375,349
2071 64,239,726 439,499,004
2070 63,457,636 436,539,777
2069 62,664,074 433,472,204
2068 61,857,029 430,320,190
2067 61,042,577 427,066,199
2066 60,222,511 423,736,078
2065 59,400,594 420,318,527
2064 58,567,263 416,811,285
2063 57,727,308 413,231,409
2062 56,880,111 409,583,480
2061 56,026,848 405,859,509
2060 55,166,339 402,073,494
2059 54,304,533 398,228,736
2058 53,437,711 394,315,883
2057 52,565,517 390,341,867
2056 51,691,907 386,298,064
2055 50,813,138 382,193,151
2054 49,936,085 378,030,342
2053 49,053,898 373,799,276
2052 48,167,179 369,501,634
2051 47,280,403 365,149,555
2050 46,390,999 360,734,783
2049 45,505,968 356,271,401
2048 44,617,075 351,752,501
2047 43,730,396 347,169,674
2046 42,840,806 342,532,578
2045 41,951,176 337,834,528
2044 41,061,960 333,076,416
2043 40,172,937 328,256,555
2042 39,286,024 323,388,886
2041 38,406,403 318,469,120
2040 37,525,963 313,492,800
2039 36,652,557 308,474,350
2038 35,772,629 303,423,786
2037 34,902,845 298,351,344
2036 34,036,236 293,250,795
2035 33,178,665 288,138,368
2034 32,328,037 283,018,151
2033 31,486,276 277,897,810
2032 30,655,886 272,769,123
2031 29,833,522 267,666,779
2030 29,028,860 262,583,487
2029 28,235,559 257,504,936
2028 27,456,170 252,465,743
2027 26,690,187 247,457,208
2026 25,940,320 242,477,499
2025 25,201,616 237,546,527
2024 24,478,595 232,679,478
2023 23,769,127 227,882,945
2022 23,072,640 223,150,896
2021 22,388,630 218,529,286
2020 21,713,836 213,996,181
2019 21,068,405 209,485,641
2018 20,442,030 204,938,755
2017 19,813,011 200,254,579
2016 19,191,289 195,443,700
2015 18,593,022 190,671,878
2014 18,020,267 185,896,915
2013 17,459,615 181,049,443
2012 16,957,033 176,200,625
2011 16,469,049 171,379,598
2010 15,945,198 166,642,886
2009 15,435,539 162,049,464
2008 14,940,782 157,595,014
2007 14,457,775 153,267,261
2006 13,990,139 149,077,334
2005 13,538,647 145,017,253
2004 13,102,409 141,057,045
2003 12,684,955 137,202,644
2002 12,288,050 133,471,989
2001 11,912,158 129,862,595
2000 11,559,290 126,382,494
1999 11,227,415 123,047,320
1998 10,919,573 119,846,254
1997 10,646,495 116,754,792
1996 10,407,278 113,754,779
1995 10,185,365 110,819,428
1994 9,967,031 107,935,714
1993 9,754,786 105,122,069
1992 9,553,540 102,372,770
1991 9,362,888 99,720,162
1990 9,178,830 97,120,925
1989 8,999,938 94,531,014
1988 8,833,996 92,020,090
1987 8,681,164 89,591,716
1986 8,531,277 87,235,953
1985 8,374,663 84,897,973
1984 8,208,599 82,526,443
1983 8,034,400 80,438,260
1982 7,860,194 78,378,701
1981 7,692,766 76,068,103
1980 7,530,515 73,764,641
1979 7,375,266 71,498,242
1978 7,229,651 69,326,532
1977 7,090,979 67,234,590
1976 6,960,979 65,258,009
1975 6,837,261 63,410,815
1974 6,715,436 61,679,144
1973 6,597,106 60,082,139
1972 6,483,726 58,601,748
1971 6,377,944 57,214,684
1970 6,276,472 55,893,838
1969 6,177,704 54,631,914
1968 6,082,979 53,432,783
1967 5,990,906 52,293,065
1966 5,902,204 51,188,234
1965 5,815,487 50,086,764
1964 5,730,125 49,012,016
1963 5,646,605 47,973,575
1962 5,563,917 46,965,292
1961 5,482,283 45,989,310
1960 5,402,550 45,053,782

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/mali/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mali increased by 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mali gained 6,951,863 people (a 36.2% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Mali was ranked 66th most populous country in 2006 and is 58th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Mali's population will grow by 77.4% to 46,390,999 people with a rank change from 58th to 46th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Mali is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 80.4M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Mali
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mali Nigeria
2100 0.4% 0.04%
2099 0.43% 0.06%
2098 0.44% 0.07%
2097 0.46% 0.09%
2096 0.49% 0.1%
2095 0.52% 0.11%
2094 0.54% 0.13%
2093 0.56% 0.15%
2092 0.59% 0.17%
2091 0.62% 0.19%
2090 0.65% 0.21%
2089 0.68% 0.23%
2088 0.71% 0.25%
2087 0.73% 0.28%
2086 0.76% 0.3%
2085 0.79% 0.32%
2084 0.83% 0.35%
2083 0.85% 0.37%
2082 0.89% 0.39%
2081 0.91% 0.42%
2080 0.95% 0.45%
2079 0.98% 0.47%
2078 1.01% 0.5%
2077 1.03% 0.52%
2076 1.06% 0.55%
2075 1.1% 0.58%
2074 1.14% 0.6%
2073 1.17% 0.63%
2072 1.21% 0.65%
2071 1.23% 0.68%
2070 1.27% 0.71%
2069 1.3% 0.73%
2068 1.33% 0.76%
2067 1.36% 0.79%
2066 1.38% 0.81%
2065 1.42% 0.84%
2064 1.46% 0.87%
2063 1.49% 0.89%
2062 1.52% 0.92%
2061 1.56% 0.94%
2060 1.59% 0.97%
2059 1.62% 0.99%
2058 1.66% 1.02%
2057 1.69% 1.05%
2056 1.73% 1.07%
2055 1.76% 1.1%
2054 1.8% 1.13%
2053 1.84% 1.16%
2052 1.88% 1.19%
2051 1.92% 1.22%
2050 1.94% 1.25%
2049 1.99% 1.28%
2048 2.03% 1.32%
2047 2.08% 1.35%
2046 2.12% 1.39%
2045 2.17% 1.43%
2044 2.21% 1.47%
2043 2.26% 1.51%
2042 2.29% 1.54%
2041 2.35% 1.59%
2040 2.38% 1.63%
2039 2.46% 1.66%
2038 2.49% 1.7%
2037 2.55% 1.74%
2036 2.58% 1.77%
2035 2.63% 1.81%
2034 2.67% 1.84%
2033 2.71% 1.88%
2032 2.76% 1.91%
2031 2.77% 1.94%
2030 2.81% 1.97%
2029 2.84% 2%
2028 2.87% 2.02%
2027 2.89% 2.05%
2026 2.93% 2.08%
2025 2.95% 2.09%
2024 2.98% 2.1%
2023 3.02% 2.12%
2022 3.06% 2.11%
2021 3.11% 2.12%
2020 3.06% 2.15%
2019 3.06% 2.22%
2018 3.17% 2.34%
2017 3.24% 2.46%
2016 3.22% 2.5%
2015 3.18% 2.57%
2014 3.21% 2.68%
2013 2.96% 2.75%
2012 2.96% 2.81%
2011 3.29% 2.84%
2010 3.3% 2.83%
2009 3.31% 2.83%
2008 3.34% 2.82%
2007 3.34% 2.81%
2006 3.33% 2.8%
2005 3.33% 2.81%
2004 3.29% 2.81%
2003 3.23% 2.8%
2002 3.16% 2.78%
2001 3.05% 2.75%
2000 2.96% 2.71%
1999 2.82% 2.67%
1998 2.56% 2.65%
1997 2.3% 2.64%
1996 2.18% 2.65%
1995 2.19% 2.67%
1994 2.18% 2.68%
1993 2.11% 2.69%
1992 2.04% 2.66%
1991 2.01% 2.68%
1990 1.99% 2.74%
1989 1.88% 2.73%
1988 1.76% 2.71%
1987 1.76% 2.7%
1986 1.87% 2.75%
1985 2.02% 2.87%
1984 2.17% 2.6%
1983 2.22% 2.63%
1982 2.18% 3.04%
1981 2.15% 3.12%
1980 2.1% 3.17%
1979 2.01% 3.13%
1978 1.96% 3.11%
1977 1.87% 3.03%
1976 1.81% 2.91%
1975 1.81% 2.81%
1974 1.79% 2.66%
1973 1.75% 2.53%
1972 1.66% 2.42%
1971 1.62% 2.36%
1970 1.6% 2.31%
1969 1.56% 2.24%
1968 1.54% 2.18%
1967 1.5% 2.16%
1966 1.49% 2.2%
1965 1.49% 2.19%
1964 1.48% 2.16%
1963 1.49% 2.15%
1962 1.49% 2.12%
1961 1.48% 2.08%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/mali/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mali grew by 2.98%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Mali Nigeria
Current population
26143152
243824469
Population rank 58/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 2.94%
One net population change
44.5 seconds
6.58 seconds
One birth every
33.1 seconds
4.2 seconds
One death every
2.56 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,944 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +709,468 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +2.98% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 15/197 48/197
One migration net change every
11 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -48,019 -15,258
Net migration rank 173/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 545,323 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 76/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 131/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mali
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mali Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -48,019 - -15,258
2024 - -46,880 - -35,202
2023 746,398 -39,953 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 726,465 -39,951 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 703,674 -22,210 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 683,053 -14,962 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 667,110 -44,373 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 670,723 -40,710 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 661,973 -33,942 4,706,183 78,685
2016 645,652 -30,251 4,761,594 75,265
2015 630,006 -48,872 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 614,419 -50,068 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 597,887 -40,951 4,811,751 40,201
2012 588,748 -140,507 4,774,508 71,138
2011 570,899 -43,160 4,728,363 67,808
2010 554,447 -34,483 4,629,173 47,966
2009 533,730 -34,383 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 514,665 -24,509 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 495,800 -19,945 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 477,665 -18,247 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 460,964 -17,413 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 439,717 -10,796 3,877,376 46,370
2003 417,766 -11,768 3,751,120 33,857
2002 396,732 -8,914 3,606,814 69,594
2001 376,472 -12,507 3,478,370 64,163
2000 359,159 -17,395 3,343,196 74,535
1999 343,705 -21,702 3,155,425 97,195
1998 323,940 -30,255 3,003,946 145,575
1997 308,429 -55,978 2,936,500 96,885
1996 293,953 -67,974 2,882,205 84,448
1995 285,598 -67,763 2,830,771 73,243
1994 282,356 -63,533 2,735,198 128,134
1993 274,480 -68,816 2,673,675 90,200
1992 267,605 -70,789 2,596,173 138,412
1991 261,656 -77,172 2,527,807 42,760
1990 252,308 -68,668 2,491,928 135,959
1989 249,929 -75,771 2,452,324 99,588
1988 245,682 -87,952 2,376,419 93,510
1987 238,871 -90,940 2,322,397 64,418
1986 233,799 -81,970 2,295,003 29,682
1985 224,734 -63,347 2,289,784 61,514
1984 218,078 -47,331 2,278,060 113,758
1983 211,795 -34,132 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 204,892 -34,140 2,233,401 101,116
1981 198,227 -34,130 2,179,884 106,723
1980 190,560 -30,156 2,121,618 198,672
1979 182,449 -32,353 2,074,807 137,721
1978 172,652 -31,520 2,019,621 111,258
1977 165,071 -28,853 1,923,917 129,075
1976 157,778 -33,999 1,827,289 72,889
1975 150,222 -26,572 1,718,623 75,603
1974 142,448 -22,449 1,624,813 44,281
1973 135,801 -19,137 1,525,485 -618
1972 129,687 -19,594 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 123,591 -22,127 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 118,952 -17,479 1,295,507 7,953
1969 114,361 -18,302 1,213,484 6,912
1968 111,403 -18,015 1,168,254 9,615
1967 107,650 -16,900 1,082,884 18,683
1966 103,684 -17,032 1,095,582 12,513
1965 100,451 -13,662 1,061,840 32,988
1964 97,166 -13,226 1,028,272 26,411
1963 95,055 -11,951 995,116 27,115
1962 93,101 -10,821 966,452 27,906
1961 91,115 -10,139 932,111 25,515
1960 88,802 -10,314 901,301 12,131

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/mali/nigeria | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 94.9% of the population change in Mali is from natural causes (a gain of 6,749,473 people) and 5.13% is from migration (a loss of 365,292 people). In Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 545,323 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Mali, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 214K
Segou 134K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/mali/nigeria | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.